LIFE IN IRELAND 97 



unwieldy Dutch hoy or fishing schuyt, which he has 

 painted up and called a yacht ; she escaped from the 

 battle of Walcheren by throwing overboard her cargo of 

 turtle and port- wine. She moves by steam ; that is, he 

 has on board a steam apparatus for cooking, and S^it- 

 head is his favourite prospect. Would you credit it, 

 Brian, our goodly corporation intend that the new 

 Dock shall be opened by Sir Billy's foreign built vessel, 

 and a new Irish ship, built of Irish oak upon Irish ground, 

 has been rejected to make room for this compliment to 

 a man, of whom we know nothing, but that he is the Sir 

 John Falstaff of London ? ' ' There is nothing of pride 

 or common decency in that,' said Brian; 'national 

 honours should never be thrown away upon simple 

 individuals famous only for a long purse and a lojig 

 appetite; but when did any one hear of an Irish cor- 

 poration doing a consistent action ? ' ' The only con- 

 sistent thing they ever deserved to be thanked for was 

 inviting the King over.' 'By Jasus ! ' replied Brian, 

 ' I see no consistency in asking a man to walk into his 

 own house, as if he hadn't a right to open the door 

 and go in at his pleasure. Good-bye; remember you 

 meet me at the Lodge on your best blood bay to attend 

 the King to the Curragh of Kildare.' 



Our heroes then shook hands, and in a short time 

 they were both snug in bed, hard at work dreaming they 

 were fast asleep. 



If ever there was a bad day in Ireland it was the one 

 our heroes rose to enjoy ; as they rode up to the gate 

 of Phoenix Park drenched to the skin, ' I think,' sighed 

 Brian, ' we have plenty of water, I wish we had a taste 

 of whiskey along with it.' ' Your wish shall be gratified,' 



G 



